Recreational vehicle

ABSTRACT

A trailer of the type that is intended to be towed with a towing vehicle has a trailer body with an elevated front portion. The towing vehicle has a vehicle hitch assembly, and the trailer body has an elevated front portion, with a mounting arrangement extending downward from beneath the front portion. A reflector is integral with the front portion of the trailer body. The reflector faces forward and downward such that the driver of the towing vehicle may view the reflection of the vehicle hitch assembly and the mounting arrangement extending from the trailer body as the towing vehicle is backed up. This facilitates positioning the towing vehicle for connection to said trailer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fifth wheel trailers have been used extensively for many years becauseof a number of advantages that such trailers offers over other types oftrailers. In particular, fifth wheel trailers permit somewhat heavierloads to be towed safely. Additionally, such trailers track quite wellbehind the towing vehicle, even when adverse road conditions areencountered. Finally, fifth wheel travel trailers provide a great dealof useable interior room.

Fifth wheel trailers have become popular in recent years in the traveltrailer industry. A conventional fifth wheel travel trailer isspecifically designed to be towed by a pick up truck or by a flat bedtruck. The front end of such a trailer is elevated above the bed of thetruck. The trailer includes a mounting portion, sometimes referred to asa kingpin, that extends downward from beneath the elevated part of thetrailer and engages a trailer hitch that is secured to the bed of thepick up truck directly over the rear wheels of the truck. This fifthwheel hitch arrangement has the advantage that a significant portion ofthe weight of the trailer is applied to the truck bed over the truck'srear wheels, increasing the traction that can be obtained by the truck.This, in turn, produces a towing combination of truck and trailer whichhandles well during towing, minimizing sway, and which backs up withrelative ease. Further, the two level design of the trailer results inan elevated forward portion that is advantageously used as a bedroomarea.

The fifth wheel trailer design, however, is not without itsdisadvantages. While it is relatively easy to connect and disconnectfrom the truck, backing the truck into position prior to connecting tothe truck bed hitch can be difficult, especially if a driver ismaneuvering the truck without assistance from someone standing near therear of the truck, giving the driver directions. There is a need for afifth wheel trailer in which the process of connecting the trailer tothe hitch carried by the tow vehicle is facilitated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by a trailer constructed according to the presentinvention. The trailer is intended to be towed with a towing vehiclehaving a vehicle hitch assembly. The trailer includes a trailer bodyhaving an elevated front portion, with a mounting arrangement extendingdownward from beneath the front portion. The trailer further includes areflector that is integral with the front portion of the trailer body.The reflector faces forward and downward such that the driver of atowing vehicle may view the reflection of the vehicle hitch assembly andthe reflection of the mounting arrangement extending from the trailerbody as the towing vehicle is backed up. This facilitates positioningthe towing vehicle for connection to the trailer.

The reflector may define a surface having a layer of reflectivematerial. The layer of reflective material may comprise a layer ofreflective film adhesively secured to the trailer body. Alternatively,the reflector may comprise a metal plate having a mirrored surface. Thereflector extends across at least half of the width of the front of thetrailer, and may be planar, concave or convex.

The trailer may be a fifth wheel trailer and the towing vehicle may be atruck, such as for example a pick up truck or a flat bed truck. Thetrailer may further comprise lights on the front portion of the trailerbody, such that the hitch and the mounting arrangement may beilluminated during the connection of the trailer to the towing vehicle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved trailer which facilitates hitching the trailer to a towingvehicle. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, the accompanying drawings, and theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a trailer and a pick up truck as a towingvehicle according to the present invention, with a portion of the backof the truck broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the trailer and towing vehicle of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the front end cap of the trailer body, as seenlooking from left to right in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-3 which illustrate a trailer 10, and thecombination of the trailer 10 and a towing vehicle 12, constructedaccording to the present invention. The towing vehicle 10 may comprise apick up truck, as shown, or a flat bed truck, or another suitable typeof truck. The trailer 10 is a fifth wheel trailer of the type thatincludes a trailer body having an elevated front portion 14. The trailerhas a mounting arrangement 16, including a fifth wheel pin box 18extending downward from beneath the front portion 14. The towing vehiclehas a hitch assembly 20 mounted on the bed of the truck 12 and securedto the truck generally above and between the rear wheels 21 of the truck12. When the mounting arrangement 16 is secured to the hitch 20, thetruck 12 will support a significant portion of the weight of the trailer10. This enhances the traction achieved with the rear wheels of thetruck 12, and produces a truck and trailer combination that handles andperforms very well.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the trailer body has a front end cap which maybe molded of a polymer material or fabricated from aluminum or othermetal material. The front end cap includes a reflector 22 that isintegral with the front portion of the trailer body. The reflector is“integral” in the sense that it is mounted on the trailer body surface,and does not extend outward from the body, thereby reducing thelikelihood that it might be damaged in use. The reflector 22 facesforward and downward such that the driver of the towing vehicle 12,indicated at 24, may view the reflection of the vehicle hitch assembly20 and the mounting arrangement 16 extending from the trailer body asthe towing vehicle is backed up. In this manner, positioning the towingvehicle 12 for connection to the trailer 10 is facilitated. Although afront end cap is shown in FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that theinstant invention is not limited to those trailers that are constructedwith a front end cap. Some trailers of this type are constructed withouta cap, but rather with a sheet of appropriate material simply wrappedover the front portion of the trailer body. In such instances, thereflector 22 is simply mounted on whatever structure forms the frontportion of the trailer body, facing forward and downward.

The reflector 22 may be constructed in any of a number of ways. Forexample, the reflector 22 may be a planar or curved surface having alayer of reflective material. The reflective material can be a layer ofreflective film adhesively secured to the front end cap of the trailerbody. Alternatively, the reflector 22 may comprise a metal plate havinga polished, mirror-like surface. The metal plate may be coated with achrome material or other highly reflective material to produce a mirroreffect. The metal plate may be attached to the body of the trailer withan adhesive. Alternatively, the plate may be attached to the body of thetrailer with screws or rivets, or other mechanical attachmentmechanisms. Alternatively, the reflector 22 may comprise a mirror madeof a coated glass plate, or a coated plastic plate. The reflector 22 isshown as extending across at more than half of the width of the front ofthe trailer 10. It should be understood, however, that reflectors ofvarious widths may be used. The width of the reflector 22 will beselected based on the desired extent of view, and can range from verynarrow to nearly the entire width of the trailer.

As will be apparent, the reflector 22 is flush with the front portion ofthe trailer body, such that it does not interfere with the movement ofthe truck 12 into position. The reflector 22 faces forward and downwardsuch that the driver 24 of the truck 12 may view the reflection of thevehicle hitch assembly 20 and the reflection of the mounting arrangement16. As seen in FIG. 3, the driver 24 observes the hitch 20 in the rearview mirror 25 along sight lines 26 and 28. At the same time, the driver24 observes the mounting arrangement 16 in the rear view mirror 25 alongthe sight lines 26 and 30. The reflector 22 may be planar, or curved,either concave or convex, depending upon the desired opticalcharacteristics. For example, a wider field of view may be produced by areflector that is convex in shape, although image distortions will alsoresult.

The trailer 10 may further include lights 32 on the front portion of thetrailer body. The lights are directed generally downward, therebyilluminating the hitch 20 and the mounting arrangement 16. This willfacilitate the connection of the trailer to the towing vehicle at nightor in adverse weather conditions. Additional running lights 34 may alsobe provided on the trailer 10.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forpurposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes in the invention disclosedherein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention,which is defined in the appended claims.

1. A trailer intended to be towed with a towing vehicle, said towingvehicle having a vehicle hitch assembly, comprising: a trailer bodyhaving an elevated front portion, with a mounting arrangement extendingdownward from beneath said front portion, and a reflector, integral withthe front portion of the trailer body, said reflector facing forward anddownward such that the driver of a towing vehicle may view thereflection of said vehicle hitch assembly and said mounting arrangementextending from the trailer body as the towing vehicle is backed up, suchthat positioning the towing vehicle for connection to said trailer isfacilitated, said reflector extending across at least half of the widthof the front of the trailer.
 2. A trailer intended to be towed with atowing vehicle, said towing vehicle having a vehicle hitch assembly,comprising: a trailer body having an elevated front portion, with amounting arrangement extending downward from beneath said front portion,and a reflector, integral with the front portion of the trailer body,said reflector facing forward and downward such that the driver of atowing vehicle may view the reflection of said vehicle hitch assemblyand said mounting arrangement extending from the trailer body as thetowing vehicle is backed up, such that positioning the towing vehiclefor connection to said trailer is facilitated, said reflector includinga surface having a layer of reflective material, and said layer ofreflective material comprising a layer of reflective film adhesivelysecured to said trailer body.
 3. A combination of a trailer and a towingvehicle, comprising: a towing vehicle including a truck, a vehicle hitchassembly secured to said truck generally above the rear wheels of saidtruck, a trailer having a trailer body defining an elevated frontportion, and further including a mounting arrangement extending downwardfrom beneath said front portion engaging said hitch assembly, and areflector integral with the front portion of said trailer body, saidreflector facing forward and downward such that the driver of said truckmay view the reflection of said vehicle hitch assembly and said mountingarrangement, thereby aiding the driver in positioning the towing vehiclefor connection to said trailer, said reflector extending across at leasthalf of the width of the front of the trailer.
 4. A combination of atrailer and a towing vehicle, comprising: a towing vehicle including atruck, a vehicle hitch assembly secured to said truck generally abovethe rear wheels of said truck, a trailer having a trailer body definingan elevated front portion, and further including a mounting arrangementextending downward from beneath said front portion engaging said hitchassembly, and a reflector integral with the front portion of saidtrailer body, said reflector facing forward and downward such that thedriver of said truck may view the reflection of said vehicle hitchassembly and said mounting arrangement, thereby aiding the driver inpositioning the towing vehicle for connection to said trailer, saidreflector including a surface have a layer of reflective material, andsaid layer of reflective material comprising a layer of reflective filmadhesively secured to said trailer body.